Can’t stop coughing? It’s a common question happening with all of the upper respiratory illness going around including colds, flu and RSV.

Maybe two weeks ago you had a virus, you treated the symptoms with antibiotics, you’re feeling much better, but the cough is just lingering. Juanbosco Ayala, MD, is a pulmonologist in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He provides medical care to patients on a daily basis, especially people who have breathing disorders and lung disease, and explains potential reasons why coughs linger.

“A lot of times it’s due to the local inflammation that persists. There’s not much to do for it, we typically recommend antihistamines, and sometimes you’ll have to cycle those,” Dr. Ayala says. “It’s usually something that subsides with time. But if it doesn’t, then obviously that may need to be looked at.”

Antihistamines can include Claritin-D, Benadryl, Allegra and more. These can be found over the counter and do not require a prescription.

For many, colder temperatures bring on an uptick in mucus in your throat. For this, Dr. Ayala says another over the counter option, Mucinex, may be a good choice for you.

Dr. Ayala recommends keeping a close eye on your symptoms. As more people are getting colds and viruses this time of year, it’s important to not let local hospitals get overrun if you can treat your symptoms at home.

“As long as you don’t have some of the red flags, like a persistent fever, high-grade fever that lasts more than one to three days. Something that won’t go away, despite using temporary measures like Tylenol or Motrin. If this persists more than two or three days, this might be something that needs to be looked at,” Dr. Ayala says.

Should you go to the doctor?

COVID-19, RSV, strep and the flu are very contagious, but usually can be treated at home. If you have symptoms such as cough or sore throat, but they are mild and you do not have a high risk health condition, you can take a COVID-19 test at home and treat your symptoms with over-the-counter medications. 

Go to the doctor if you…

Have symptoms that haven’t gotten better after 10 days, have difficulty breathing, or have a preexisting condition like diabetes, asthma, or COPD. If you have white spots on the back of your throat, this is a clear sign of an infection and will need medical intervention prescribed by a licensed medical provider.

How to stay healthy

Wash your hands, cover your cough and stay home if you’re sick.

Now that the New Year has come and gone, many resolutions have done the same. But Dr. Birhanu says it’s more important to make behavioral modifications than setting a date to lose weight.

“Behavioral modification is very important for people to lose weight. People can lose weight, then they gain it back. But if you have a reason why you want to lose weight and you are happy with the result, you are more likely to maintain your behavior,” Dr. Birhanu says.

For Lori Boaz, a patient in the wellness and weight management program at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, her reasons were to keep up with her grandkids better and get both her knees replaced.

“I hope to get my new knees within the next year,” Boaz says.

Meeting with the weight management team at any OSF location isn’t just putting together a diet to go on, Dr. Birhanu says the team will work with you to put together a healthy lifestyle plan. He adds that setting expectations is key.

“I don’t want them to expect too much or too little. After they lose weight, I always ask them what other things in their lives improved because of the weight loss,” Dr. Birhanu says.

Boaz is roughly halfway to her weight loss goal and is getting closer to being able to get those knee replacements she’s been wanting.

“We set goals. The main goal was to lose 100 pounds,” Boaz says. “I didn’t want to diet. Because I’ve lost weight before, and I gained it back. I wanted to eat healthy and be healthy, so every choice I made I had that in mind.”

Dr. Birhanu says losing weight and gaining weight is a common occurrence, because your metabolism goes down each time you lose weight. But he says there are ways to combat this.

“Exercise improves your metabolism, so we advise them how to exercise,” Dr. Birhanu says. “If a person never exercised in the past and now, you’re asking them to exercise, there are injury possibilities, so we work with our physical therapy team to evaluate them.”

Boaz says even when she meets her goal, she wants to continue meeting with her weight management team at OSF.

“We’ll just set another goal! Because I’ll still have weight to lose,” Boaz says. “I think I’ll just do this for the rest of my life!”

OSF HealthCare offers weight management programs all across the Ministry. Dr. Birhanu’s team is located at OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park.

Actor James Van Der Beek announced he has colorectal cancer. 

“I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” the 47-year-old said. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good."

Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths for men under 50, and number two for women under 50, according to Fight Colorectal Cancer, a colorectal cancer patient advocacy group.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that nearly 107,000 new cases of colon cancer will happen in 2024, and just over 46,000 new cases of rectal cancer will occur. The ACS says the rates of people being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer have dropped since the mid-1980s due to people getting screened and people changing their lifestyles.

But, in people younger than 55, rates have increased 1-2% each year since the mid-1990s. Because of this, newer health guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends people start getting colonoscopies at 45.

Yvette Blancas, a registered nurse in the gastrointestinal lab at OSF HealthCare, says the procedure is not something to push off.

"A lot of times after patients have had their colonoscopies, they wake up after their procedure and sedation, and they're like 'it wasn't that bad!' We'd like them to spread the word to their family and friends because it really isn't. People just push it off for so long and then they just forget about it,” Blancas says.

To get ready for a colonoscopy, the prep work begins the day before.

"We don't want you to have any solid food the day before. We usually allow a clear liquid diet. You'll start taking your prep medication, that might be in liquid form or pill, depending on your doctor. You will likely use the washroom frequently, but the more you go the better,” Blancas says. "The procedure itself takes 20-30 minutes. You wake up and recovery takes another 20-30 minutes. We just make sure your vitals are stable, you tolerate some snacks, and then if everything is OK, you're good to go!"

Colonoscopies prevent colon cancer by finding polyps and early signs of colorectal cancer when there are more treatment options.

Blancas says to make sure you’re speaking with your primary care team and encourage your family and friends to stay on top of their health.

Aside from colonoscopies, OSF HealthCare offers other options to get screened like CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy), stool DNA test, fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and fecal occult blood test (FOBT). 

Following a successful pilot in Bloomington, OSF HealthCare is planning to expand use across its Ministry of an AI-backed platform, GI Genius, to further enhance detection of pre-cancerous polyps.

Video Interview Clips

The new care model is focused on individuals who are looking for a more personalized way to stay on top of their own health. We understand adults may be juggling the care of aging parents or grandchildren or both, managing work schedules or just generally navigating busy daily calendars, that often result in deprioritizing their own office visit. The service focuses on easy communication, self-scheduling, navigation and 24/7 support. During a construction update for the 6,300-square-foot building at 9858 S. Western Ave., in Evergreen Park, leaders outlined specifics about the modern look and feel of the clinic, along with what patients can expect from this new primary care model designed specifically to meet the needs of 55+ health consumers.

The unique service will include:

• The ability to choose how you access the care – whether that’s in person at the clinic, virtual or in your home
•  A care navigator who will be available to help guide care across the continuum with things like insurance questions or specialty care coordination
•  Remote patient monitoring which provides blood pressure cuff, scales, oxygen monitoring, and much more in your home that integrates into our medical records to ensure our care team can provide more consistent monitoring to proactively manage the chronic condition
• Group visit to provide education and support around chronic conditions as we know having support is key to success

The new clinic will feature:

• Lobby area with coffee bar, fireplace and USB plug-ins
• A Connect Bar for education where navigators will help patients set up Bluetooth wearables or communication device
• 10 exam and treatment rooms equipped for virtual visits
• Education room for group visits for education, device training, condition tracking and management
• Family consult room for private discussions that can include extended family or support individuals

“Many people 55+ are beginning to manage chronic conditions – such as diabetes, heart problems, or arthritis - and often more than one. For people in this phase of their life, OSF is excited to bring a new, proactive approach to care that gives patients multiple opportunities to access treatment and support,” OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center President Kathleen Kinsella stressed. She added, “While this building will be the physical location, this primary care program will extend beyond these walls by incorporating a mix of virtual care, digital health monitoring tools and 24/7 access to your care team.”

National Institutes of Health Research shows more than one-third of caregivers continue to provide intense care to others while suffering from poor health themselves. This highlights the importance of providing easier options for staying on top of chronic conditions for this 55+ population.

This new program is a unique collaboration between OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center and OSF OnCall, the digital arm of OSF HealthCare which has delivered convenient and custom digital health solutions to individuals for more than 10 years. 

 “At the forefront of this model are our care navigators who offer a genuine point of contact for patients, helping to coordinate all the patients’ health needs,” said Kate Barth, chief nursing officer and vice president, On-Demand Services, OSF OnCall. “Navigators pull in resources from a multidisciplinary care team to personalize the care experience and help patients choose the care that best fits their lifestyle, whether it be a virtual visit with a specialist, a primary care appointment right here in this building or setting up remote monitoring tools in a patient’s home to regularly check vitals.”

The clinic construction will take several months with a planned opening in spring of 2025.

Video clips with Kate Barth and Kathleen Kinsella

A brand-new technology is available for Chicago area patients living with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).

FARAPULSE is an FDA-approved cardiac ablation treatment, designed by Boston Scientific, to restore and regulate heartbeats and slow the progression of AFib. Now, it’s available in the newly opened Electrophysiology (EP) Lab within OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center.

It’s referred to as a pulsed field ablation, delivering energy to the cardiac tissue that doesn’t injure surrounding tissue.

“It’s completely selective to the cardiac myocytes we’re targeting to treat AFib,” says Dr. William Spear, the lead electrophysiologist at OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park, Illinois. “You deliver the energy, which only takes two and a half seconds, and it targets just the cardiac cells you're focusing on, those abnormal cells that are causing the Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), and it leaves all the other cells around it untouched."

AFib is very common, affecting around 2.7 million Americans, according to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, with an estimated 160,000 new cases each year. Symptoms of AFib include shortness of breath, heart racing, or if you can’t do activities you used to be able to do. It’s when the normal rhythm of the heart is disrupted, and the top chamber of the heart, called the atrium, begins to quiver. When this happens, it makes the heart beat 300-400 times a minute and also results in a very rapid and irregular heartbeat in the bottom chamber, decreasing the efficiency of the heart pump. This can lead to blood stagnating in the upper chamber, then clots can form, leading to stroke, heart failure, or even death.

Dr. Spear calls the new FARAPULSE service “revolutionary.” He adds all the adjacent tissues like nerves, the esophagus or lungs, won’t be damaged in the procedure.

“For the last 20-30 years, the mainstay of ablation has been radio frequency. Radio frequency is very good, but it's more traumatic to the tissue because you're actually burning the tissue,” Dr. Spear says. “With pulsed field ablation, it really leaves the esophagus untouched. We can ablate around the esophagus where the heart meets the esophagus on the posterior side, without having to worry about this major complication which is called atrial esophageal fistula (AEF). This happens because we're not touching the esophagus, we're only touching cardiac tissue.”

Tracy Jendruczek, the Vice President of Surgical and Procedural Services at OSF Little Company of Mary, says FARAPULSE will help community members in nearby areas living with AFib.

“If patients are experiencing any heart concerns or issues they should see their medical provider. From there, a cardiologist will be able to determine if ablation is appropriate for them. If appropriate, FARAPULSE is just another technique to ablate, to help the heart beat normally,” Jendruczek says. “It's a safer technique in that it preserves tissue around the heart, compared to current techniques being used for ablation.”

“It's a very serious problem that faces millions and millions of patients,” Dr. Spear says. “As we age, it becomes more and more frequent. As you get into the 70–80-year range, about 20-25% of patients will develop atrial defibrillation at some point in their life. It's a very serious problem we face as a society, really.”

Dr. Spear notes that many individuals who have AFib are asymptomatic. He says this is a reminder to keep an eye on your overall health, speak with your medical provider, and schedule an appointment with a cardiologist if recommended by your primary care physician.

The FARAPULSE PFA procedure usually takes less than one hour and allows most patients the ability to return home that day.

Video Interview Clips

FARAPULSE BROLL

OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park now has CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) perfusion capabilities, which are advanced imaging techniques that look at a patient’s blood flow to the brain.

Rapid AI helps neurovascular and vascular medical teams reduce time to treatment and improve patient outcomes. The artificial intelligence processes the images and gives clinical information to the clinician immediately, so the provider can more quickly decide the best course of treatment for the patient.

Tracy Jendruczek, the vice president of surgical and procedural services with OSF Little Company of Mary, says the addition of CT and MRI perfusions at the hospital is beneficial for the community.

“It’s available 24/7 for any patient that comes in through the emergency department,” Jendruczek says.

Who is eligible for CT Perfusion?

“Patients that might be at risk for stroke or are showing signs or symptoms of having a stroke, would be eligible for a CT perfusion of the brain. This looks at the blood flow to different areas of the brain,” Jendruczek says.

Who is eligible for MRI Perfusion?

“Patients that are eligible may be showing signs or symptoms of a tumor or have had a previously diagnosed tumor of the brain,” Jendruczek adds. “MRI perfusion, like CT, allows us to look at blood flow of the brain, but it’s specific for tumors. It’s looking at the severity and type of tumor.”

What’s the ultimate goal?

The ultimate goal of CT and MRI Perfusions is to expedite treatment for stroke patients.

“The perfusion capabilities will allow us to see the different areas of blood flow so we can quickly determine if a patient is eligible for further treatment. If we’re able to provide that treatment here at OSF Little Company of Mary, we will immediately start treating the patient,” Jendruczek says. “If not, we can more quickly transfer the patient to a place they can receive appropriate treatment.”

Video Interview Clips

In May 2023, federal officials drafted a groundbreaking recommendation for women to get the common breast screening known as a mammogram. 

A year later, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) finalized their recommendations, saying starting at 40, women should start to get breast screenings every other year. This new guidance given by the  USPSTF lowered the age from 50 to 40.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). It makes up for roughly 30% of new female cancers every year.

OSF HealthCare advanced practice registered nurse Banesa Chavez says early intervention is key to preventing breast cancer deaths.

“The benefit of completing your screenings is being able to find it earlier and get it treated,” Chavez says. “The outcomes are a lot better when the cancer is found in the early stages.”

Alongside seeing a breast health specialist, Chavez says there are ways to perform self-checks for breast cancer at home. She adds it’s vital to be vigilant in detecting any signs or symptoms and reach out to your medical provider if you find something concerning.

“If you experience any pain, any discharge,” Chavez says. “Women should be doing breast self-exams monthly.”

If you’re unsure how to perform breast self-exams, you can read Breast self-checks 101 on the OSF Newsroom.

Chavez says the new breast screening recommendations should be reason for younger women to pay attention to any bumps or lumps they see or feel on their breasts.

“Just because you’re not in your 40s or 50s, that doesn’t mean you should ignore any abnormalities or breast changes,” Chavez says. “Come and see us. There are other things we can do, other than mammograms, to detect what’s going on with your breast changes. Especially if there is a strong family history of breast cancer, it’s important not to ignore your symptoms.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about 240,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2,100 in men each year. About 42,000 women and 500 men in the U.S. die from the disease every year.

The OSF HealthCare recommendations for mammograms can be found here.

Spanish version here

Video Interview Clips

A new era of advanced cardiology care is on the horizon for patients at OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park, Ill.

"As a cornerstone of this community for the past 90 years, we recognize the profound importance of providing comprehensive care to our heart and vascular patients. Collaborating closely with the esteemed team at Consultants in Cardiology & Electrophysiology, we've observed a growing demand for specialized treatment addressing electrical heart concerns," remarked Kathleen Kinsella, President of OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center. "In alignment with our unwavering commitment to serving our community, we have embarked on the development of a cutting-edge facility tailored specifically to address these evolving needs in cardiology."

Within our state-of-the-art electrophysiology (EP) lab, our expert physicians will harness precision equipment to diagnose and treat a spectrum of heart rhythm disorders. This dedicated space will feature top-tier technology from industry leaders such as Phillips, Biosense Webster, and Boston Scientific. Among the offerings will be the world's most advanced cardiac mapping systems, empowering our specialists to effectively manage complex heart arrhythmias, including Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia.

"We are proud to unveil a world-class facility designed to address heart rhythm disorders with unparalleled precision and care," affirmed Dr. William Spear, lead electrophysiologist at OSF Little Company of Mary. "The introduction of advanced technology and equipment within this dedicated EP lab marks a transformative milestone in how we deliver care to our patients in the south suburbs."

These resources are indispensable to our community, as individuals experiencing abnormal heart rhythms may require timely intervention to mitigate risks and improve outcomes.

"In addition to the EP lab, we have established a dedicated prep and recovery area adjacent to the lab, ensuring seamless transition and immediate post-procedure care for our patients," noted Tracy Jendruczek, Vice President of Surgical and Procedural Services. “Depending on the procedure being performed and the patient’s overall status, a patient may have an overnight stay but our goal is to discharge patients the same day whenever possible."

This specialized lab will offer a comprehensive range of procedures, including ablation techniques and device interventions, all tailored to optimize heart rhythm management and enhance patient well-being.

Kathleen Kinsella Video Interview Clips

Tracy Jendruczek Video Interview Clips

Electrophysiology Lab B-Roll

Electrophysiology Lab images

En mayo de 2023, funcionarios federales redactaron una innovadora recomendación para que las mujeres se realicen el estudio habitual de detección de cáncer de mama, conocido como mamografía. En esa nueva orientación presentada por el Grupo de Trabajo de Servicios Preventivos de Estados Unidos (United States Preventive Services Task Force, USPSTF), se redujo la edad de 50 a 40.

El cáncer de mama es el tipo de cáncer más común en mujeres en Estados Unidos, de acuerdo con la Sociedad Americana contra el Cáncer (American Cancer Society, ACS). Constituye cerca del 30 % de los nuevos casos de cáncer en mujeres cada año.

Banesa Chavez, enfermera registrada de práctica avanzada de OSF HealthCare, afirma que la intervención temprana es clave para la prevención de la muerte por cáncer de mama.

“El beneficio de los estudios de detección es la posibilidad de detectarlo y tratarlo antes”, agrega Chavez. “Los resultados son mucho mejores cuando el cáncer se detecta en las etapas más tempranas”.

Además de consultar con un especialista de salud mamaria, Chavez dice que hay formas de realizar autoexámenes de mama en casa. Añade que es vital mantenerse atento a todos los signos y síntomas y consultar con un proveedor médico si se detecta algo preocupante.

“Si tienen dolor o secreciones”, dice Chavez. “Las mujeres deberían realizarse autoexámenes todos los meses”.

Si no saben cómo realizarse un autoexamen de mama, pueden leer la Introducción a los autoexámenes de mama (Breast self-checks 101) en la Sala de prensa de OSF.

Según Chavez, las nuevas recomendaciones de exámenes de detección de cáncer de mama deberían ser un motivo por el que mujeres más jóvenes presten atención a cualquier bulto o protuberancia que puedan ver o sentir en las mamas.

“El hecho de que no tengan 40 o 50 años, no significa que deban ignorar las anomalías y cambios en las mamas”, dice Chavez. “Vengan a vernos. Hay otras cosas que podemos hacer, además de las mamografías, para detectar lo que está sucediendo con los cambios en las mamas. Especialmente si hay antecedentes familiares de cáncer de mama, es importante no ignorar los síntomas”.

Los Centros de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC) informan que todos los años se diagnostican cerca de 240 000 casos de cáncer de mama en mujeres y cerca de 2100 en hombres. Cerca de 42 000 mujeres y 500 hombres en EE. UU. mueren a causa de esta enfermedad todos los años.

Las recomendaciones de OSF HealthCare para mamografías están disponibles aquí.

Vídeos de entrevistas

En el Medio Oeste, nunca se sabe cuándo el calor se irá de verdad. Sin embargo, a medida que se acerca el otoño y las temperaturas más frescas se vuelven más constantes, es importante priorizar la salud.

Para las personas que no padecen trastornos respiratorios graves, la brisa fresca del otoño puede ser agradable. En cambio, para quienes padecen enfermedades pulmonares crónicas, puede ser una época difícil.

"Sobre todo en las personas con asma o los pacientes con enfisema o EPOC, nos damos cuenta de que algunos de sus síntomas pueden aparecer con este cambio de clima", dice Juanbosco Ayala, MD, médico neumólogo de OSF HealthCare. "Los síntomas como la tos, falta de aliento y sibilancias son habituales y se pueden presentar durante este periodo".

Con el regreso a clases de los niños, los deportes de otoño en pleno apogeo y los virus presentes en el lugar de trabajo, el aire fresco puede significar un aumento de las enfermedades.

El Dr. Ayala afirma que hay algunas formas de protegernos este otoño.

"Tener la vacuna contra la gripe es sin duda una gran manera de protegernos. Además, reconozca cómo cambia su respiración. Pregúntese si está relacionado con el cambio de temperaturas o si se trata de una tos persistente que no desaparece. Un aumento de los esputos que produce cada día, fiebre, escalofríos o sudor nocturno pueden ser motivo de preocupación", dice el Dr. Ayala.

Si bien las alergias de primavera son más frecuentes y graves, el Dr. Ayala señala que las alergias pueden persistir en los meses de otoño.

"No las percibimos tan intensas como en primavera, pero siguen presentes. El aumento que se observa en primavera está relacionado con que los pacientes salen un poco más al exterior o con que hay cambios en la primavera".

El cambio de clima en otoño también puede influir en nuestra forma de dormir. A medida que bajan las temperaturas, aumenta el número de personas que duermen con las ventanas abiertas para respirar un poco de aire fresco. 

"En cuanto a los pacientes con trastornos crónicos del sueño, dormir con las ventanas abiertas no es un problema. Pueden hacerlo. Lo importante es que continúen con sus terapias, como usar su C-PAP todas las noches mientras puedan", añade el Dr. Ayala.

Si los síntomas de resfriado persisten, el Dr. Ayala recomienda acudir al médico de inmediato. Si le preocupa la posibilidad de padecer un trastorno respiratorio o del sueño, puede que lo deriven a un neumólogo o a un médico especialista en el sueño para una evaluación más exhaustiva.

Vídeos de entrevistas

Of all cancers, oral cancer is not often talked about. But medical experts say it’s crucial to pay attention to early warning signs.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth and the back of the throat. That includes cancers that develop on the tongue, on the tissue lining the mouth and gums, under the tongue, at the base of the tongue, and the area of the throat at the back of the mouth.

Oral cancer makes up about 3% of all cancers diagnosed each year in the United States; there were approximately 54,000 new cases in 2022.

“It can be a little mouth sore, “ says Deborah Oyelowo, a family nurse practitioner who specializes in hematology/oncology for OSF HealthCare. ”Oh, maybe I bit my tongue or have a little bump on my lip or a bump on the back of my throat. Or I can feel this bump under my tongue. There could be bumps or there could be something else brewing that we have no idea.”

Oral cancer is seen most often in people 40 and older. Most cancers in the mouth are related to tobacco use, drinking alcohol, or both, and most throat cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The number of HPV-related cancers has spiked in the past few years.

Some studies show twice as many men as women develop oral cancer.

I believe it’s due to the fact that men tend to smoke more, drink more and lack follow up appointments with providers," says Oyelowo. "Men tend to procrastinate; they tend to be like, ‘Oh, we're good.’ I believe that's the reason why the increase in this population is on the rise.”

While there are many causes of oral cancer including genetics, poor nutrition and age, tobacco and alcohol use continue to play a significant role. That includes tobacco of any kind, such as cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Using both tobacco and alcohol increases the risk even more.

Oyelowo says it’s never too late to stop smoking and curb your alcohol consumption.

“Smoking is one of the worst things you can invest in," she adds. "I tell people who smoke to ‘try and stop.’ Because smoking is attributed to many forms of cancer and oral cancer is one of them.”

Oyelowo says it’s important to pay attention to changes within your body because when it comes to cancer, prevention is just as important as a cure.

She adds that if you have any of the following symptoms for more than a couple of weeks, call your doctor or dentist.

·         Pain or bleeding in the mouth

·         Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth

·         A lump in the neck

·         A white or red patch in the mouth

·         Problems chewing, swallowing, or talking

·         A sore or lump in your mouth, lip or throat

“Know when something is not right,” says Oyelowo. "Have a regular routine checkup with your dentist. And follow up with your doctor when something is not right. I need patients to have an established relationship with a doctor.”

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare. 

 

Interview Clips 

Según la Academia Estadounidense de Medicina del Sueño (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, AASM), en Estados Unidos, cerca de 30 millones de adultos se ven afectados por la apnea obstructiva del sueño, y casi el 80 % de estos casos no tiene diagnóstico. 

La AASM lanzó una campaña de concienciación sobre esta afección, cuyo costo supera los $149 000 millones anuales, divididos en atención médica, pérdida de productividad laboral, y accidentes laborales y de tránsito.  

Juanbosco Ayala, doctor en medicina, trabaja como neumólogo en OSF HealthCare. El Dr. Ayala mantiene que el signo más común de la apnea del sueño es el cansancio generalizado durante el día. 

“Los pacientes se sienten muy cansados y no tienen energía al despertarse por la mañana”, indica. “Pueden sufrir dolor de cabeza matutino y sequedad en la boca, como también es posible que sus parejas manifiesten que han roncado o dejado de respirar en la mitad de la noche”. 

¿Otro signo común? Dormitar durante el día.  

“Ya sea que estén hablando como estamos haciendo nosotros ahora, participando en una reunión o mirando una película, los pacientes se quedan dormidos. Es el cansancio excesivo lo que los lleva a quedarse dormidos con tanta facilidad. Hay pacientes que incluso pueden quedarse dormidos mientras conducen. Llegan a una señal de ‘Pare’ y, durante esos dos segundos en los que no prestan atención, se quedan dormidos”, manifiesta el Dr. Ayala.  

Además, indicó que el tratamiento más común para la apnea del sueño es una máquina que ejerce una presión positiva continua en las vías respiratorias (continuous positive airway pressure, C-PAP).  

“Existe una máscara facial completa que cubre la nariz y la boca. Aunque hay pacientes que solo con una mascarilla nasal resuelven el problema”, sostiene Ayala.  

Según informaron recientemente los médicos de OSF HealthCare, los malos hábitos de sueño pueden tener consecuencias a largo plazo en nuestras vidas. El Dr. Ayala dice que lo mismo sucede con la apnea del sueño.  

“Las consecuencias a largo plazo suelen afectar el corazón o los pulmones. Específicamente, la hipertensión crónica y la hipertensión pulmonar pueden ser afecciones a largo plazo que surjan a partir de una apnea del sueño no tratada”, menciona el Dr. Ayala. “Además, existe un alto riesgo de padecer ataques cardíacos o accidentes cerebrovasculares”. 

El Dr. Ayala indica que, según ciertos datos, la apnea del sueño también podría dar lugar a un deterioro cognitivo. Explica que la apnea del sueño suele observarse en personas con sobrepeso, pero casi todas las personas pueden padecerla. 

“Hay una parte de la población que está en forma, y no necesariamente tiene sobrepeso, y padece apnea del sueño”, afirma el Dr. Ayala. “En ocasiones, no abordar el tema es lo que impide tratar esta afección”. 

El Dr. Ayala manifiesta que lo mejor que puede hacer si sospecha que sufre apnea del sueño es acudir a un médico. Un proveedor de OSF HealthCare puede evaluarlo y elaborar un plan de tratamiento para seguir adelante. 

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Nearly 30 million adults in the United States are affected by obstructive sleep apnea and almost 80% of these cases are undiagnosed, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

The AASM has launched an awareness campaign for this condition, which costs more than $149 billion annually in health care costs, lost work productivity and workplace and motor vehicle accidents.

Juanbosco Ayala, MD, is a pulmonologist with OSF HealthCare. He says the most common sign of sleep apnea is an overall tiredness throughout the day.

“Patients feel very tired and don’t feel energized after waking up in the morning,” Dr. Ayala says. “They may have morning headaches, a dry mouth, and they may be told by their significant other that they snore or stop breathing in the middle of the night.”

Another common sign? Dozing off during the day.

“Whether it’s talking like we are, in a meeting, or watching a movie. It’s this excessive tiredness that leads to falling asleep quite easily. There are even patients who will fall asleep while driving. They get to a stop sign and for those two seconds they’re not paying attention, they’ll doze off,” Dr. Ayala says.

The most common treatment of sleep apnea, Dr. Ayala says, is the C-PAP machine.

“There’s a full face mask that encompasses a mask over the nose and mouth. There are patients that do well with just a nasal mask,” Dr. Ayala says.

As recently reported by doctors at OSF HealthCare, bad sleeping habits can have long-term consequences to our lives. Dr. Ayala says the same goes for sleep apnea.

“Long-term consequences typically involve either the heart or the lungs. Specifically long-standing hypertension and an entity called pulmonary hypertension can be something we see long-term from untreated sleep apnea,” Dr. Ayala says. “There’s also a significant risk for heart attacks and strokes.”

Dr. Ayala says some data suggests sleep apnea could also lead to cognitive impairment. He says sleep apnea is normally seen in overweight patients, but can be found in almost anyone.

“There is a subset of the population that is fit, not necessarily overweight, and they have sleep apnea,” Dr. Ayala says. “Sometimes not thinking about it leads to impediments in treatment.”

Dr. Ayala says the best thing you can do if you suspect you have sleep apnea is to see a health care provider. An OSF HealthCare provider can evaluate you and create a treatment plan moving forward.

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Sickness and injuries can come out of nowhere, and sometimes you just need to see a health care provider as soon as possible. But with medical appointments in demand and long lines at the emergency room, that’s not always the easiest thing to schedule.

In the Chicago-area, OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary has five OSF OnCall Urgent Care Clinics. These clean, high-quality, accessible clinics can get you seen by a health care professional very efficiently and the hours throughout the year are flexible for anyone’s schedules.

You can even get care through 24/7 virtual visits anywhere in Illinois and Michigan.

“We’re open seven days in the week, 12 hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” Adriana Monarrez, certified medical assistant with OSF OnCall Urgent Care says.

On top of being seen for common injuries and illnesses, OSF OnCall Urgent Care offers a wide variety of other services.

“We do drug screenings, strep tests and more,” says Felisa Mercado, medical office assistant at OSF OnCall. “The shortest amount of time patients are here goes from 10 minutes to 30-40 minutes. We’re open on holidays even, which is very important to the community.”

Health care providers at OSF OnCall Urgent Care locations across the OSF Ministry also perform minor procedures such as stitches and wound care, X-rays and more. A provider can refer you to a specialist if further care is needed.

“We’ll do the registration, any testing or X-Rays, and then the provider will come in,” Monarrez says.

Like Mercado and Monarrez, staff at many of the OSF OnCall Urgent Care clinics in the Chicago area are bilingual. Translators are available too.

OSF OnCall Urgent Care clinics accepts a wide range of insurance plans. You can find the full list here: osfhealthcare.org/billing/insurance/plans/ or visit osfoncall.org/urgentcare to learn more.

To see this full story in Spanish, click here.

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OSF OnCall Urgent Care Clinic B-Roll

Television personality and conservationist Bindi Irwin recently spoke on social media about her struggle with endometriosis.

Irwin, the daughter of the late Steve Irwin, says she's on the mend but spoke of terrible symptoms - fatigue, nausea and pain.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), endometriosis is when the tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus, causing bleeding, inflammation, and scarring.

While the most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, this is also a common side effect women experience during their menstrual cycle. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 80% of women experience pelvic pain during their period. This may make it difficult to differentiate what is causing your pain – especially because the pain caused by endometriosis typically occurs during the same time.

Dr. Vanessa Foster, an OSF HealthCare OB/GYN, recommends talking to your OB/GYN if you experience heightened pain during your menstrual cycle, as your provider can help determine its root cause.

“Sometimes it is difficult to tell, because everybody’s pain threshold and how they tolerate pain is different. But usually, endometriosis pain is associated with your menstrual cycle. Don’t ignore the pain. As women, we get busy in our lives and are taking care of everything else and you may just ignore it and take Tylenol or Ibuprofen – but I would just say don’t ignore it,” says Dr. Foster.

She adds that not all women who experience pelvic pain have endometriosis. Sometimes, only a small amount of endometriosis may cause severe, debilitating pain while in other cases, a higher amount of endometriosis may cause little pain. In fact, many women with endometriosis may have no symptoms at all.

In some cases, endometriosis is not detected until a woman is at a stage in her life when she is trying to start a family.

“Endometriosis effects 5-10% of reproductive age women, and about a third of them will have infertility problems associated with the endometriosis,” Dr. Foster explains.

Because of this, if you have been struggling with infertility, Dr. Foster recommends talking to your health care provider about the possibility of having endometriosis that has gone undiagnosed.

In addition to being a woman of reproductive age, the NIH adds that other risk factors for endometriosis can include having a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis; starting your menstrual period at an early age (before age 11), having short monthly cycles (less than 27 days), or having heavy menstrual periods that last more than seven days.

Dr. Foster says that while most OB/GYN providers can typically determine the presence of endometriosis during an examination, further steps need to be taken to know for sure.

“It can only be diagnosed surgically. So you have to look at the endometriosis and take a biopsy of it. A lot of times, we can generally diagnose it based on history and everything falls into the endometriosis category – but to definitively diagnose it, you need to have surgery,” says Dr. Foster.

If you think you might have endometriosis, Dr. Foster recommends making an appointment with your OB/GYN and bringing a journal of some sort with you to your appointment to share with your provider.

“The best thing is to keep a menstrual calendar. We want to know when the pain started, how long the pain lasts, what it is associated with, does it come before the onset of bleeding or does it come after. So the best advice I have is to keep a very detailed menstrual calendar,” Dr. Foster advises.

Most importantly, endometriosis can be treated. If you have endometriosis, your provider can work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that can range from over-the-counter medications to surgical intervention.

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